My sons have always known me as a full-time working mom. I’m incredibly lucky to have a job that provides a level of flexibility that isn’t very common where we live. I’ve been able to be preschool room helper and chaperone the zoo field trip. I’ve gotten to know my son’s friends at classroom parties and in the lunchroom.
But, it never quite seems like enough. My oldest regularly asks why I can’t pick him up after school. My youngest is still upset that I missed the preschool Valentine’s Day party. When I travel for work, I miss out on the regular routine for a few days at a time. It’s rough.
Can I let you in on a secret?
I love my job. Like love, love my job. I work for an awesome company and have the best coworkers I could ask for. My job is fulfilling. It uses my strengths and pushes me to improve day after day. I’m proud to be setting an example of a successful, working woman for my sons.
I also don’t know if I could cut is as a stay-at-home mom. I’m good friends with several and let me tell you: those women are saints. Let’s be honest, I’m a better mom and human being when I’m working.
All of those things I just told you? None of them make the mom guilt go away, or even lessen, on most days. Strangely enough, do you know what does help?
Talking about it.
Admitting it out loud. Being a parent isn’t easy. It is, hands down, the hardest job I can think of.
It is also the one I hold myself to the highest standard for. And the one where we’ve collectively decided (for some unknown and assinine reason) to never talk about the hard parts. If we don’t talk about them, they don’t exist.
Except that is patently incorrect. We owe it to ourselves to talk about it. We owe it to the next generation of moms and dads to be open and honest about what they’re in for.
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Photo Credit: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/shot-boy-drawing-while-his-mother-358325276?src=BsB6pveq0z7sdH8yO-UjZw-1-23